BROOM AT TOP! Ryan leads charge
PLYMOUTH hot-shot Ryan Broom swept Plymouth into League One’s top spot with a long-range stunner.
The loanee from Peterborough hit a 25-yard drive to put the Pilgrims in total control, as he added to a lucky own-goal opener – courtesy of Ethan Hamilton – then a Jordan Houghton strike.
And it was all topped off by a later Ryan Hardie header.
Tommy Leigh had given the hosts brief hope, pulling the score back to 2-1 just after the break.
But the pick of the goals was Broom’s cracker which sealed it from the left-hand side of the box. Houghton led the charge that led to his strike with a surging run. He passed to Conor Grant, who set up Broom, and the midfielder unleashed his blockbuster to give keeper Toby Savin no chance as his firecracker zipped into the far side of the net.
Plymouth pushed their unbeaten run to 16 league games.
It was the perfect way for boss Ryan Lowe to celebrate his 100th game in charge at Home Park AND he avoided the dreaded hoodoo of being named last month’s manager of the month and then going on to lose. Lowe said: “Being top of the table is a good feeling, so let’s savour it and enjoy it. That was one of the best away performances we have had.
“Ryan Broom’s goal was really good. He gives us so much energy and something different.
“He needs more goals to follow that one, but he’s a great player. He wants to score more and improve his game.”
Stanley boss John Coleman added: “We just have to find ways of defending better. We have to stop those moments of madness.”